Jahlil Okafor is fed up with the Philadelphia 76ers. Since they drafted him third overall in 2015, the Sixers haven’t been the biggest fans of Okafor. He’s more or less fallen completely out of the rotation as those minutes have gone to superior big men Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Dario Saric.
Following the 76ers declining his fourth-year option, Okafor requested to be either bought out or traded. Per Keith Pompey of Philly.com, the Boston Celtics have registered the most interest in Okafor:
According to sources, the Boston Celtics have expressed the most interest in Okafor. Knowing the Sixers don’t have long-term plans for Okafor, the Celtics aren’t willing to give up much, however.
The Celtics, though, hope the Sixers buy out Okafor’s contract, the sources said. The Celtics were awarded an $8.4 million injury exception to fill the void caused by Gordon Hayward’s season-ending injury. The Sixers know that, and they don’t want to allow their Atlantic Division rival, with which they’ve been negotiating, to get Okafor without giving up anything.
Okafor is a very talented post-up big man. He can’t, however, do much of anything else. He’s not an outside shooter, and he can’t protect the rim very well. It’s tough to envision him fitting too well in Boston as a big-time player, but as a big body off the bench? Sure, why not.
